Nation pays tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar on his birth anniversary

New Delhi, Apr 14: The nation came together on Sunday to pay solemn tribute to Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar on the occasion of his birth anniversary. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla led the commemorations with floral tributes at Babasaheb’s statue at Prerna Sthal in the Parliament House Complex. Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, former MPs, and other dignitaries, including Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, also paid their respects to the principal architect of the Indian Constitution.

Later in the day, tributes were also offered at Babasaheb’s portrait in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan (formerly Parliament House), where Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers, senior opposition leaders, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta participated in a solemn homage ceremony. Secretaries-General of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Utpal Kumar Singh and P.C. Mody joined in the tribute. Babasaheb Ambedkar, India’s first Law Minister and Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, is widely revered as a champion of social justice and inclusivity. His contribution to shaping India’s constitutional framework and ensuring the rights of marginalised communities remains foundational to the Republic.

Reflecting on Ambedkar’s enduring legacy, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla posted on the social media platform X: “Tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution, the country’s first Law Minister, Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar ji on his birth anniversary. Babasaheb remained dedicated to equality, freedom, justice and fraternity throughout his life. Coming from a humble background, he used education as a medium to bring the desired changes in society... Babasaheb’s philosophy becomes even more relevant as we celebrate 75 years of the Constitution.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post in Hindi on X, stated: “On behalf of all the countrymen, I bow to Bharat Ratna Pujya Babasaheb on his birth anniversary. It is his inspiration that the country is dedicatedly engaged in realizing the dream of social justice today. His principles and ideals are going to strengthen and give momentum to the building of a self-reliant and developed India.”

The portrait of Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Central Hall was first unveiled on April 12, 1990, by then Prime Minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh. Since then, his legacy has been honored annually with reverence and national pride. The day’s events served not only as a tribute to the towering leader of social justice but also as a reminder of his vision for an inclusive, equitable, and empowered India.